The Godwulf Manuscript

By: Robert B. Parker

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Spenser earned his degree in the school of hard knocks, so he is ready when a Boston university hires him to recover a rare, stolen manuscript. He is hardly surprised that his only clue is a radical student with four bullets in his chest.

The cops are ready to throw the book at the pretty blond coed whose prints are all over the murder weapon but Spenser knows there are no easy answers. He tackles some very heavy homework and knows that if he doesn't finish his assignment soon, he could end up marked "D" -- for dead.

Crack another case with Spenser.

©1992 Robert B. Parker (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

>"Spenser is Boston's answer to James Bond - irreverent, witty, worldy. His first-person recital of his detective work makes for fast, amusing reading." ( The Pittsburgh Press)

Good book great read for detective fiction lovers

What made the experience of listening to The Godwulf Manuscript the most enjoyable?

The story was definitely most enjoyable. The main character is great!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Godwulf Manuscript?

Spencer has sex with both the suspect and her mother in the same day.

What does Michael Prichard bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I couldn't picture him as Spencer, he sounds a lot older. He does a good job at reading and he very clear. This is great for me because I always have trouble keeping up with what is happening in detective fictions and often have to go back, but its easy to take mental note with him reading.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

No Idea

Good Beginning for a New (to me) Series

If you could sum up The Godwulf Manuscript in three words, what would they be?

Perfect Memory Detective

What did you like best about this story?

Story line about a detective with a perfect (sort of) memory

Which character – as performed by Michael Prichard – was your favorite?

Spenser, the detective, was my favorite character.

Any additional comments?

l look forward to reading the rest of the series.

1st Book ... More and better to come!!!

What did you love best about The Godwulf Manuscript?

Spencer as a young, relatively innocent, PI. Stumbling and Bumbling (as he does for the next 36 books) through things to find the real reason something took place ... he is the idealist that we would all like to be.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Spencer. See above. He's young, fresh, inquisitive, and wants to do the right thing ... by his standards.

What does Michael Prichard bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hated the reader until I really listened. He is fabulous! He reads such that you don't hear his voice, but hear the text and storyline. He is matter of fact ... just the way Spencer is ... Great Reader! Read the book ... hear the voices in my head. Mr. Prichard ... hear the voices in the book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Sure, you laugh at Spencer bumbling about. You cry at the victim (he can't save) losing their life. You wait for the next emotional reaction.

Any additional comments?

Robert B. Parker wrote 37 books. It is my goal to collect ALL of them!

Sensational

Maybe Parker's best. Great story, great lines, unpredictable from start to finish. This is a slam dunk.

The First Spenser Novel: Still One of the Best.

Spenser's on campus in 1973 when one investigation leads to his being involved in a bogus murder charge against a coed as her only advocate and protector. The introductory novel of the series was a breath of fresh air at the time, and this one stands up as an excellent example of Spenser's best. It's also the one pre Susan Spenser novel and that alone would elevate it. This one however stands on it's own; the portrait of Terri's wealthy parents is the snapshot of the era. As are the professor and Terri's wannabe badass boyfriend. It's not a Spenser that's recognizable to those more familiar with his later works socially as he has sex with a mother and daughter in less than 24 hours. Iris Milford is another great character and it's interesting to watch Spenser and Quirk stand toe-to-toe ready to go. Even with a subpar narrator this one is a five star listen.

Very enjoyable. I like the author’s wit.

This is the first book in the Spenser series: a private eye mystery. Nothing unusual about the plot or method of solving the mystery, and some of the motivations and events might be a little weak. But I’m really enjoying the series. He makes me laugh at unexpected times. It’s not a lot of laughs - maybe once every other chapter. But it’s rare for an author to get a laugh out of me. So it’s worth it.

The narrator Michael Prichard was very good.

Genre: PI mystery

Good story poor narrator

Would have prefered a different reader, that distracted from the story I do enjoy the Robert B Parker books and like Spencer

Old style detective novel

Best I’ve heard in a long long time.
Plenty of old fashioned, straight forward
Uncomplicated sex and violence
Good guys are good, bad guys are bad.
Hurray for Mr Parker

Disappointing production

This must be a early Spenser story, no Dr Silverman or Hawk. The readers voice is flat with no emotion. Sounds like he is just reading it without care about how he sounds. I will finish it but with little hope it will improve. Performance is not good. I give it a low rating.

Poor narration killed it for me.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

no- I usually enjoy Spenser stories, but this one's narration was like eating dry, stale toast.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

no

How did the narrator detract from the book?

his voice was monotone, with no inflection or change of attitude. It could have been the phone book for all of the personality he gave it. He sounded like a newscaster delivering the dead-pan news reel.

Was The Godwulf Manuscript worth the listening time?

no -